Portable pan-tilt camera and lighting unit for videoimaging, videoconferencing, production and recording

• US 8,411,131 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2011
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Simon P. King
• Original Assignee: Simon P. King
• Inventors: King, Simon P.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMAKRISHNAIAH, MELUR
• Application Number:
  US13/185,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20120013725A1
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1401- 1416, 348/373, 348/836, 348/68, 348/69, 312/209, 312/312, 600/178, 600/180, 600/181, 600/109, 600/182, 600/160, 362/287, 362/418, 362/419, 362/427, 250/363.08, 250/368, 378/189, 378/190, 433/29
• US Class Current: 348/14.08
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/361 Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

The present invention is a portable camera and lighting unit for standalone use in videography to create a high-resolution well-illuminated video feed from a vast array of camera angles and positions, the illumination source always inherently tracking with the camera. The unit may also be used as a satellite in combination with a primary video conferencing and production station (VVPR) for multi-camera production and teleconferencing capabilities. The portable camera and lighting unit includes a portable base, a mast extending upward from the base, and an articulating boom that is fully-pivotable and extendable. A remote control Pan-Tilt-Zoom camera is mounted at the end of the boom for overhead images of healthcare procedures, and an adjustable beam light source is mounted directly on the camera for lighting. The mast is equipped with a color monitor coupled to the camera for operator previewing at the portable unit, and the remote control camera provides a single video feed that can be teleconferenced, recorded, and even mixed with other cameras when used as a satellite adjunct to the primary VVPR, thereby allow full production capabilities for live interactive broadcasts, all in real time by a single operator from a single point of control. The portable unit is mobile and offers more diverse lighting and camera angles than previously possible.

Claims

1. A mobile lighting unit for producing lighting for a live video feed of a medical procedure, comprising:

a wheeled base;

a cabinet enclosure mounted on said base;

a mast extending vertically from said base;

an articulating boom extending from atop said mast, said boom comprising a plurality of segments pivotally joined end-to-end;

a video camera mounted distally on said articulating boom on a pan-tilt base, said video camera having a zoom lens and a pan-tilt-zoom remote control; and

a light source mounted proximate the zoom lens of said camera;

whereby said mobile lighting unit may be wheeled into a convenient location for illumination.

2. The mobile videoimaging unit according to claim 1, further comprising a color video display connected to said video camera and mounted on said mast for displaying an output from the remotely-controlled video camera to an operator.

3. In a mobile lighting unit, a remotely-controlled pan-tilt-zoom video camera comprising a rotating base for rotation about a first axis, an articulating lens carriage supported by said base for rotation about a second axis, a lens attached to said articulating lens carriage, and a light source attached to said lens carriage proximate said lens for directing a focused beam of light along the same optical path shared by said video camera.

4. The mobile lighting unit according to claim 3, wherein said a remotely-controlled pan-tilt-zoom video camera is mounted distally on an articulating boom, which is in turn mounted on a mast extending from a base.

5. The mobile lighting unit according to claim 3, wherein said base is a multi-legged base having a castor on each leg.

6. A combination videoimaging and lighting unit for producing a video feed, comprising:

an articulating boom;

a pan-tilt-zoom video camera having a zoom lens supported in an articulating pan-tilt lens carriage for imaging a field of view centered about an optical path, and a base attached to said articulating boom and supporting said lens carriage; and

a light source attached to the lens carriage of said video camera for directing a beam of light along said optical path.

7. The combination videoimaging and lighting unit for producing a video feed according to claim 6, wherein said light source further comprises a fiber optic light source including a projection lens fixedly mounted to said articulating lens carriage and in optical communication through an optical fiber to a remote lamp.

8. The combination videoimaging and lighting unit for producing a video feed according to claim 7, wherein said projection lens is adjustable to illuminate the entire field of view of said video camera.

9. The combination videoimaging and lighting unit for producing a video feed according to claim 7, wherein said remote lamp is a xenon lamp.

10. The combination videoimaging and lighting unit for producing a video feed according to claim 7, wherein said video camera further comprises a pan-tilt-zoom remote control.

11. The combination videoimaging and lighting unit for producing a video feed according to claim 7, wherein said articulating boom including at least two fixed segments pivotally attached end-to-end, said video camera being mounted distally at one end of said articulating boom.

12. The combination videoimaging and lighting unit for producing a video feed according to claim 11, wherein another end of said articulating boom is mounted to one end of a vertically-extending mast.

13. The combination videoimaging and lighting unit for producing a video feed according to claim 12, wherein another end of said mast is attached to a wheeled base.

14. The combination videoimaging and lighting unit for producing a video feed according to claim 6, wherein said light source is an LED light source.

15. A mobile lighting unit for producing lighting for a live video feed of a medical procedure, comprising:

a wheeled base;

a cabinet enclosure mounted on said base;

a mast extending vertically from said base;

an articulating boom extending from atop said mast, said boom comprising a plurality of segments pivotally joined end-to-end and extending to a distal end;

a remotely-controlled pan-tilt-zoom video camera having a pan-tilt base mounted on the distal end of said boom, an articulating lens carriage supported by said pan-tilt base, and a lens attached to said articulating lens carriage; and

a light source attached to said lens carriage proximate said lens for directing a focused beam of light along the same optical path shared by said video camera;

whereby said mobile lighting unit may be wheeled into a convenient location for illumination.

16. The mobile videoimaging unit according to claim 15, wherein said light source further comprises a fiber optic light source including a projection lens fixedly mounted to said articulating lens carriage and in optical communication through an optical fiber to a remote lamp.

17. The mobile videoimaging unit according to claim 15, wherein said light source further comprises an LED light source.

18. The mobile videoimaging unit according to claim 17, wherein said mobile videoimaging unit further comprises:

a pan-tilt-zoom video camera including a zoom lens and a pan-tilt-zoom remote control, said video camera being mounted distally on said articulating boom; and

the light source comprises an LED light source mounted proximate the zoom lens of said camera.

19. The mobile videoimaging unit according to claim 18, wherein said pan-tilt-zoom video camera further comprises said zoom lens mounted on an articulating pan-tilt lens carriage, said lens carriage in turn being supported in a base, and said base is attached to said articulating boom and supporting said lens carriage;

and

said LED light source is mounted on the lens carriage of said video camera proximate said zoom lens for directing a beam of light along a common optical path.